Hay-rack



(No Model.)

B. TANNER.

HAY RACK.

No. 323,467. Patented Aug. 4, 188-5.

INT/RAPTOR fi6/7m7vTamen Attorneys N. PEYERS Fhak Lhhcgnpher. ware-1 1m D. C,

UNITED STATES PATENT Fries.

BENJAMIX TANNER, OF STUPGIS, MICHIGAN.

HAY-RACK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 323,467, dated August 4, 1885. Application filed May 2, 1885. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN TANNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sturgis, in the county of St. Joseph and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Hay-Racks, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to an improvement in hay-racks; and it consists in the peculiar construction and combination of devices, that will be more fully set forth hereinafter, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

The object of this invention is to provide an adjustable hay-rack for wagons or sleds that may be lengthened or shortened at will.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of the rack opened to its full est extent. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the rack when shortened. Fig. 4 is a detail transverse sectional view taken on the line it a: of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detailed transverse sectional view taken on the line 3 of Fig. 1.

A represents the bedtimbers, that for ordinary service may be about fifteen feet long and of the thickness necessary to insure proper strength.

B represents a section of the raclgwhich is composed of the transverse bars C, the longitudinal connecting bars or boards D, and the longitudinal bars E, which fit between the front end of the bed-timbers A, and are secured thereto by transverse pins F.

Metallic straps G are secured to the under sides of the bars E and O,and are bent around the bed-timbers A, as shown.

On the under sides of the bars E, at the centers thereof, are bolted blocks H,whicl1 are wide enough to extend outwardly a slight distance beyond the outer sides of the bed-timbers A, and in the outer sides of these blocks are cut the vertical mortises I.

K represents a double pivoted tongue that is secured to the front end of the section B.

The section 0 is constructed similarly to the section B, with the exception that its side boards, L, are curved upwardly, as shown at Fig. 2, and adapted to clear the rear wheels of the wagon, and in this section is pivoted asingle tongue, M, which may be raised or lowered similarly to the double tongue K. The section 0 slides on the bed-timbers A, and is provided curing the section to the bed-timbers, which are similar to the straps G.

Blocks It, similar to the blocks H, are secured to the longitudinal timbers of the section 0, and are likewise provided with the vertical mortises S on their outer sides.

T represents boards that are pivoted to the section 0, as at V. The free ends of these boards pass through keepers XV, that are secured to the section B, and serve the purpose of connecting the two sections together.

The rack is secured upon the running-gear of the wagon by having the blocks H and R supported on the upper sides of the bolsters of the wagon, and held in place by the standards, which pass through the mortises made in the outer sides of the blocks. The rack is lengthened or shortened by lengthening or shortening the distance between the front and rear axles of the vehicle, which should be provided with a reach adapted for this purpose.

When the rack is taken to pieces, and the sections are entirely removed from the bedtimb'ers, the boardsT can be swung in across the inner end of the section 0 out of the way. A rack thus constructed is strong and light, is cheap, and is very durable. The sections can be easily separated ilrom each other and handled by one person, and it may be lengthened or extended to any desired extent and adapted to iit any wagon or sled of reasonable dimensions.

I am aware that it has been heretofore proposed to construct hay-racks for wagons, composed of the bed-timbers, a frame or section secured thereto at one end, and a sliding section secured to the bed-timbers and adapted to slide thereon for lengthening or shortening the hay-rack, and this, broadly, I disclaim.

Having thus described .my invention, I claim- The combination of the bed-timbers, the

with metallic straps P for se- V rack-sections, one of which is secured to one end ofthe bed-timbers and the other adapted to slide back and forth thereon for the pur-,

pose of lengthening and shortening the rack, and the blocks H R, secured to the sections and extending under and supporting the bed timbers, said blocks being adapted to rest upon the bolsters of a rnnninggear, substantial] y as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as IO my own I have hereto affixed my signatn re 1n presence of two witnesses.

BENJAMIN TANNER.

WVitnesses:

WALTER N. HAsKELL, J NO. G. h/IANAHAN. 

